As was often expected on a Saturday, the town was abuzz with activity, and nowhere was this more evident than with the students of all the various schools found there. From Canterlot High all the way to Crystal Prep, the students were out and about, enjoying the day as best they could, be it simply hanging out with their friends or even going out for more active endeavours. For Indigo Zap, she was most definitely placing herself in the latter category. At this present moment, she was in one of the town’s local sport’s enclosures. Specifically, the tennis pitches. There, she was clad in a pristine white tennis outfit, complete with shorts. In her hand was a fine-looking racket for the occasion, which she swirled in her hand with expert skill, which, naturally, led to a somewhat prideful smirk on her face. However, it wasn’t long before she soon turned her attention to her sparring partner for the day.

“You okay over there, Flutters?”

There, standing on the opposite side of the tennis net from her, was Fluttershy, who was similarly dressed for the sport, albeit with a skirt instead of shorts. Holding onto her racket as if it were a lifeline, the girl nodded, though kept silent, all while wearing a look of concern. Indigo nodded, apparently not noticing this, and produced from her pocket a single tennis ball. After narrowing her eyes at the thing, she bounced it down on the ground, and as soon as it bounced up again, she swung her racket as hard as she could. Of course, being the athlete that she was, the ball was sent off like a rocket, hurtling towards Fluttershy, who looked at it with utter terror. Immediately, the Canterlot High girl ducked for cover, allowing the ball to fly right over her head. Indigo watched this with a somewhat incredulous expression.

“Oh come on, Fluttershy! It’s just a ball!”

Getting back to her feet, Fluttershy brushed herself down a little before replying to that.

“I know, but…it…it was going so fast!”

Slapping her forehead with frustration, Indigo took a few calming breaths before putting on a smile, speaking in a softer tone as she called out to her companion.

“Okay. Maybe I went at it too hard that time. I’m sorry. I’ll try and hit it a bit easier this time, okay?”

Considering that, Fluttershy gave a nod, though looked no less nervous about it all. Nodding in response, Indigo made her way over to where the ball had landed before, picking it up and then walking back to where she’d stood last time. Taking a deep breath, she bounced it a second time, hitting it with her racket with somewhat less force. Thankfully, this time, Fluttershy actually tried to swing her racket, much to Indigo’s delight. Unfortunately, she did so with her eyes closed, and simply swirled in one spot with the racket outstretched. And as the ball flew by, she’d barely touched it. When she finally came to a stop, she opened her eyes at last, looking around for the ball.

“Did…did I hit it?”

Indigo stood there, a blank look on her face, as she looked from Fluttershy, to the ball on the ground behind her, and then back again.

“You…er…well, you tried to hit it, and that's what matters!”

However, rather than seeming happy at those words, Fluttershy actually started to look somewhat down on herself.

“Oh…I’m not doing well, am I?”

Indigo took on a more guilty expression at having caused that reaction in her, taking a few steps forward and speaking in a more reassuring tone.

“Well, I wouldn’t say that exactly.”

Fluttershy looked away from her, holding her racket closer to her as she responded.

“It’s just...you’re kind of talking like Rainbow does when she takes me out on days like this.”

That caused Indigo to pause for a moment.

“Ah. I…I take it you’ve tried other sports before?”

Fluttershy nodded.

“Rainbow took me jogging once. But I wasn’t comfortable going as fast as her. There was the time she took me to a football game, but I couldn’t really kick the ball that hard. And then there was the time…”

But, Indigo raised a hand, stopping her.

“I get it. It’s not your thing.”

Fluttershy nodded at that, and soon afterwards, Indigo took on a more ponderous look, turning to the girl with a raised eyebrow.

“Wait…if you’re not big on sports, then…why did you agree to come to this one?”

Fluttershy looked somewhat embarrassed at being asked that, looking away from Indigo as she fumbled her words.

“Well…um…you asked so nicely, and…well…I didn’t want to sound rude by saying no.”

Hearing that, Indigo rolled her eyes.

“Flutters…I appreciate the sentiment, but it’s not gonna to do anyone any good if you just tag along without liking what you’re going to.”

Fluttershy seemed down again after hearing that, leading to yet another bout of guilt on Indigo’s part.

“Look…I’m sorry. But maybe…maybe we can help you with this somehow. Get you to find something about it that can help you get more motivated.”

Fluttershy turned to her yet again, seeming sceptical at that.

“Sunset told me you like sports a lot, right?”

A smirk emerged upon Indigo’s face.

“Sure do! From the time I could crawl I’ve loved it! Never had any trouble getting into it, be it tennis, track or anything in-between.”

Fluttershy nodded.

“You’re lucky. I mean…I supposed I’ve always wanted to be more enthusiastic about it. It’s just…I’ve never been able to.”

Looking to her, Indigo nodded.

“Hey, it’s no biggie. It’s not for everyone. In fact, I remember my old coaches telling me that different people take to things in different ways.”

Looking away from her, a nostalgic look crossed Indigo’s face.

“What was it he said? Oh yeah! Anyone can like anything…you just have to figure out how to get them to like it.”

Hearing that, a small smile crept onto Fluttershy’s face.

“That sounds nice. I remember my friends saying something similar to me once, back when I was having trouble getting people interested in helping at the animal shelter.”

Turning back to her, a wide smile grew on Indigo as she moved closer.

“There you go! In that case, all we have to do with you is find some way of getting you interested in this.”

Indigo put a hand to her chin, looking deep in thought over the matter, all while Fluttershy looked at her from the side-lines.

“Un…is there any way we can include…um…animals in this sport?”

Looking to her, Indigo chuckled a little before shaking her head.

“It’s a nice thought, Flutters, but I doubt…”

However, she didn’t finish that sentence, as Fluttershy’s words began to sink in for her. She looked away, an expression upon her face that gave the distinct impression that she’d just had a “eureka” moment, which, naturally, was followed by a mischievous smirk on her. Turning, she began to run towards Fluttershy, leaping over the net that separated them, which took the latter aback somewhat. After arriving within a few steps of her, Indigo placed her hands on her hips and looked at her with that same smile plastered all over her face.

“Actually, Fluttershy, that’s not a bad idea.”

To that, Fluttershy’s eyes widened.

“Oooh! Maybe we can bring Angel and have him carry his own little racket?”

Indigo shook her head.

“Nope! I’ve got something even better!”

Fluttershy took on a look of confusion, watching as Indigo walked past her and towards the spot where the ball had landed. Picking it up, Indigo regarded it carefully for a moment, before turning to Fluttershy again.

“Hey, Flutters…imagine this ball could talk.”

Naturally, Fluttershy looked more than a little confused at that.

“Um…pardon?”

Chuckling a little, Indigo just kept talking.

“You heard me. Imagine this ball could talk. You know, hold a conversation or something.”

Although she was, understandably, unsure about all that, Fluttershy nevertheless went along with it, giving a brief nod.

“Oh…okay. Um…what does he say?”

Indigo placed the ball to her ear for a moment, before starting to wear a look of faux shock.

“Oh dear! He says that he thinks animals are bad!”

To that, Fluttershy’s eyes widened with shock.

“W…what?!”

Indigo nodded.

“Yeah! In fact…he thinks animals are just a whole bunch of pests!”

Fluttershy stood there, looking utterly aghast at what had just been said. And that was exactly what Indigo had been waiting for. Before Fluttershy could do or say anything, the Crystal Prep girl brought her hand back, ready to throw.

“Here he comes!”

And with that, she threw it, with Fluttershy remaining perfectly still as it shot straight at her. But, mere nanoseconds before it collided with her, the usually-shy girl’s eyes narrowed as she tightened the grip on her racket.

“That small…dumb…MEANIE!!!”

Raising her hand, she gave an almighty swing, impacting the ball and sending it off with near-rocket level force back towards Indigo. So great was the hit that Indigo barely had enough time to duck out of the way as it came soaring past her. It took only a moment, but after she got back to her feet, she turned to see where the ball had landed. And when she did, her eyes widened with shock. For there it was, embedded in the brick wall at the end of the pitch, almost akin to that of a cannon ball having been fired at it. Slowly, she turned to Fluttershy, who was still seething. However, this didn’t last long, as she soon regained her usual demure appearance, looking more than a little unsure about this.

“Oh! Um…did I do alright?”

Staying silent, Indigo looked from her, to the wall and then back again, before gaining a look of hesitancy herself.

“Um…on second thoughts…let’s just stick to checkers.”